I just started collecting in November 2012 and half gotten plenty of BU mercs and silver Roosevelts, more than a page of BU silver quarters, some BU silver dollers, a few BU silver half dollars, lots of low grade seateds, Indians and 1850s large cents, BU wheat pennys, some old silver proof sets and new clad proof sets, mint sets, etc. The only old coin I have gotten is a VG 1818 half dollar with a pitcher 8 variety. Today for $15 I got a cleaned and corroded 1803 large cent. I would like to know the details grade. Can you tell me you opinion on its detail grade? Here are the pictures P.S. I have not gotten the coin yet, so these are the sellers pictures Thanks,
First off, there are several varieties of the 1803 cent. This one appears to be the "small date, large fraction" variety. (Though it's kinda tough from the photos.) My Redbook lists this variety in G4 as $30, but your coin has way too many problems for that grade. The grade description for AG3 is described as "clear enough to identify," so it passes that criterion. But like you said, it's corroded, dented, and looks like it was once polished... Those problems bring the value way down. I suppose if you were buying it as a hole filler, it's fine. But personally, I would have stayed away from this coin.
